Mikel boasts: Zambia will fall

Man of the match against Burkina, Mikel Obi, has said that Nigeria will beat Zambia on Friday to take a bold step towards qualification to the quarterfinals.

Group C is wide open after both opening day matches ended in 1-1 draws – Ethiopia vs Zambia and Nigeria vs Burkina Faso.

Chelsea midfielder Mikel, who posted a man-of-the-match display against Burkina Faso on Monday, told MTNFootball.com that they have taken the draw with Burkina Faso in good faith as they look forward to securing victories in subsequent games.

“We are disappointed with the draw no doubt especially the way it happened, but we have put that behind us now and will strive harder to beat Zambia. I am sure we won’t disappoint ourselves and Nigerians, who should continue to support us,” Mikel told MTNFootball.com.

Mikel, who is featuring in his fourth AFCON, said the Eagles were a bit naïve in the manner they approached the closing stages of the encounter. He said he would have preferred the three points to being man of the match.

The star midfielder was injured and not available for selection when Nigeria beat Chipolopolo 2-0 in Kaduna in November 2011 in a friendly with goals from the Uche brothers, Kalu and Ikechukwu.

Pride sure goes before a fall. But why is it that only Nigerians, and some Afirican countries, boast about a match before it is played. This shows that these players know nothing about the psychology of football. They only became starts by incorrigible error. When you brag, you tend to depart from game plan to actualise it. At the end the whole team loses. Even if Barcelona is playing a 4th division team in Nigeria, you wont hear Xavi or Messi brag the way our players do against a team they should courtiously regard. Is there a coach out there to stop them from talking to the press or at least tutor them on what to say?.

Patrick

GOOD LUCK 2 U ALL AND DON’T KEEP MAKING
SHOUT HEE HEEE HEEE HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA WHAT A MISS.
I NEED GOALS ABEGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

reuben ayegba

We are giant of Africa that’s what I always hear. But a giant that last won the Nation cup in 1994 seem to me like a hollo boaster. I mean who couldn’t even beat B/faso looks so disturbing. And I won’t be surprise if they draw with Zambia or even loose to them.

This is good confidence booster. As a mid fielder, Mikel should try and motivate his colleagues without necessarily showing off as captain. Obviously that is what is lacking in the team. The boys are good and I wish them success

Kukunduku

Even Zambians now call our Eagles, Super Chickens. N-I-G-E-R-I-A you don suffer!! How one wishes Keshi can just redeem Nigeria’s image from a loud mouthed German coach and Zambians’ yabbis. But Wishes are not horses.